[Publib] Re:New Jersey librarian under fire

[Judy Anderson]

The attorney does not represent the community. He represents his employer. 
Whether or not there is a lawsuit is irrelevant. When it came to a conflict 
between the community and his employer, his duty is to the employer. This 
case is a prime example of that. His duty is to the folks who write the 
paycheck. The library was trying to protect the community. The police were 
trying to get information without due process. That makes it a conflict of 
interest on the part of the lawyer between the community and the city.

As I stated, the librarian could have been seeking counsel to protect 
herself. Ovbviously a wise move, given the reaction. It is interesting that 
you assume that her move was political rather than just educational.  
Library associations are often invovled in protecting the rights of patrons 
to free access to information, the right to read, all part of a free press. 
Since when is free press political rather than a constitutional issue?

What surprises me is that the state doesn't have a law in this matter. Many 
states do have a law saying that libraries can't release information to law 
enforcement without a subpoena.

I also have to wonder why they were so reluctant to get a subpoena and why 
they needed ten days of records for all patrons who used the library during 
that time when the event was limited to one day. Did they then plan to go 
and grill everyone who checked out any materials during that time? I wonder 
how the man who checked out a book on erectile dysfunction would feel about 
it. Or the preteen who checked out something about periods. Or the person 
who wants information about Islam and checked out a Koran. Or a librarian 
picking up a book to educate him/herself about the constitution.


Judy Anderson
Oregon
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>From: greg at shush.ws
>To: publib at webjunction.org
>Subject: [Publib] Re:New Jersey librarian under fire
>Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:05:48 -0500
>
>The lawyer would be there to represent the community, same as the police, 
>same as the librarian. He isn't there to represent in some kind of lawsuit, 
>he's just there to make sure everything is legal and on the up and up. She 
>didn't even bother to find out what he would say, she selfishly went right 
>into the political process.
>
>Greg
>SHUSH
>

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